What are Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission?
Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission are the two wings of a
religious organization formed by Swami Vivekananda, a disciple of Sri
Ramakrishna. The main reason behind the formation of this organization
is to serve the poor and destitute people as well as to provide a
comfort to the nervous ones. The headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math
and Mission are at Ramakrishna Ashram at Belur in Howrah district of
Motto of Ramakrishna Math & Mission "
Atmano mokshartham jagad hitaya cha." It means, 'for one's own
liberation, and for the welfare of the world'. The math as well as the
mission has been founded to help people in attaining salvation
themselves as well as in serving others.
Philosophy of the Ramakrishna Mission
Ramakrishna Mission is based on the philosophy of Sri Ramakrishna
Paramhansa. As per this philosophy, the main aim in the life of an
individual is the upliftment of himself as well as others. Each human
being is gifted with enormous moral and spiritual potential. The only
thing he has to do is work towards the discovery and development of that
potential. The mission does not believe in the superiority of a
particular religion, nor does it prescribe the necessity of shastras
(religious texts) and anushthana (rites and rituals).
Sri Ramakrishna was born on 18 February 1836 in the Kamarpukur village,
near Kolkata. He never gave public discourses or wrote his teachings. He
believed that the goal of life is the attainment of the Ultimate
Reality, for which an individual must have purity of mind. He preached
that God is present in every individual and therefore, serving needy
people is like serving God Himself.
Swami Vivekananda was born on 12th January 1863, as Narendra Nath
Datta, in Kolkata. A disciple of Sri Ramakrishna, he formed the
Ramakrishna Mission on 1 May 1897, to promote the teachings of his Guru
throughout the world. The Belur Math was also founded by Swami
Expansion of Rama Krishna Mission
Rama Krishna Mission has expanded to approximately 162 centers
throughout India. A number of centers have been opened abroad also, in
Argentina, Bangladesh, Canada, Fiji, France, Japan, Mauritius, the
Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, the United
Kingdom and the United States of America.
Ramakrishna Math, Belur
The headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math is the place where
Swami Vivekananda spent the last days of his life. The Math complex
consists of temples dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and
Swami Vivekananda, containing their relics. It also houses the main
monastery of the Ramakrishna Order and a museum.
Activities of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission
The math and mission provide the following types of facilities to the
poor and the needy